Should my child sit the 11+?
Deciding whether or not your child should take the 11+ is a big decision for parents and one that many parents struggle with. In this blog, I will give my advice as a teacher and tutor on how to make the best decision for you and your child.
The most straight forward way to make this decision, is to simply ask yourself two questions:
Do I want my child to go to grammar school?
Does my child want to go to grammar school?
If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then your child should sit the 11+ exam. You will need to check the entry requirements of your local grammar schools to find out which exam boards are used and how children are tested. This is likely to be a version of an ‘11+ exam’, but entry requirements do vary between schools.
You can find out more about the 11+ exam in Warwickshire here
If the answer to both of those questions is no, then I wouldn’t recommend pursuing the 11+ exam. The purpose of the test is for entry to grammar school, so if you know that is not something that you or your child are interested in then there isn’t much point in taking the exam.
If you are unsure about grammar school and the 11+, then you can take the following steps to help you decide.
Step 1: Find out about the grammar schools in your area
As I have said previously, the purpose of the 11+ is for entry to grammar school, so it is important that both you and your child have an interest in the schools available to you. Do some research into the grammar schools in your area to see if they would be a good fit for you and your child. If possible, arrange a visit or attend an open day to get a feel for the schools. You could also make use of local community groups on social media and speak to other parents to find out about their experiences with the schools.
You can find out more about the grammar schools in Warwickshire here
Step 2: Speak to your child’s teacher
I would recommend that children taking the 11+ should be working at or above age related expectations in maths and English. If you are unsure about your child’s academic progress, their teacher will be able to answer this question for you. Many primary school teachers will not know all of the details about the exam as it is not taken in school, however they do know a lot about your child’s academic ability. They will be able to tell you whether your child is working at age related expectations.
If your child is not working at, or above, age related expectations, then grammar school is probably not the best route for them. Taking the 11+ may prove too challenging and it could put unnecessary stress and pressure on your child. However, you may still wish to pursue 11+ tuition to support their academic progress in school. Additional tuition is always going to be beneficial for your child’s learning and a good tutor will ensure that their curriculum is supportive of learning in school as well as working towards the test.
You can find out more about 11+ tuition at HQ Learning here
Step 3: Take a practice test
Taking a practice test will give you a greater understanding of how your child would get on in the exam. I would recommend taking a practice test at home and working with your child to do this. By working with them, you will get a better feel for how your child finds the test and approaches the questions. Getting used to the test format does take time and practice, so I wouldn’t be expecting particularly high scores from a first attempt. However, completing a practice test will show your child what to expect and hopefully give you an insight into whether it is something they will be able to work towards.
Final thoughts…
The decision on whether to take the 11+ exam is a personal one. There are many factors to consider and each individual child is different. You know your child best and it is important that you make the decision that is right for your family.
